That prompted an angry backlash from Canarini owner Maurizio Stirpe, who told Tuttomercatoweb: “These statements appear to be made by someone who has Napoleon-like delusions of grandeur.

“In life and before football, respect is needed and I didn’t see any from him. I’ve always invested in football and I built our new stadium with the TV rights money - something De Laurentiis doesn’t seem to have done yet.

“I don’t know why he made such an outburst. All I see is a lack of respect from a peasant.

“I’d also like to say that I won’t accept advice from someone who’s won practically nothing in recent years.”